Planning Your Skylight Location

Skylight placement determines how much light you gain and how much heat you deal with. In Central Florida, south-facing skylights bring in the most light but also the most solar heat. North-facing placements give consistent, diffused light with far less heat gain. East-facing works well for morning rooms. We discuss orientation with every homeowner before we cut anything.

We also check the framing beneath the intended location. Skylights require a curb or deck opening framed between rafters. Cutting through a rafter changes the structural scope. We assess this during the estimate visit and include any framing work in your quote.

Sizing and Framing

Skylight size affects both light output and structural complexity. A common guideline: skylight area should not exceed 5 percent of floor area in rooms with many windows. In rooms with few windows, 15 percent is the upper limit. Going too large creates heat and glare problems in Florida.

We bring sample glass options to the estimate visit. You can see the light and tint quality before we order anything.

Flashing: The Critical Step

Skylight flashing fails more often than the skylight itself. Florida wind-driven rain is intense. Even a well-drained skylight can leak in a storm. It depends on how the flashing ties into the roofing system.

We use step flashing and counter flashing on every skylight installation. We do not rely on caulk alone. Caulk fails in Florida UV conditions within a few years. Properly installed metal flashing with sealant at the overlap joints lasts the life of the roof.

Every installation includes a leak test before we leave the property when conditions allow.

Glass Selection for Florida

We install low-e glass on every Florida skylight. Low-e coatings reduce solar heat gain by blocking infrared radiation while still transmitting visible light. In Central Florida's climate, this is not optional. It is the minimum responsible specification for any skylight installation.

For south-facing skylights, we discuss tinted or laminated low-e options. These reduce solar heat gain beyond what standard low-e provides. Venting skylights with low-e glass work well in kitchens and bathrooms. They exhaust heat and humidity when the weather allows.

What Happens on Install Day

• We protect interior floors and furniture below the work zone before cutting starts.
• We open the roof, frame the curb opening, and install the skylight unit and flashing system.
• We shingle around the installation and integrate all flashing with the existing roof surface.
• We frame and insulate the interior shaft if the skylight is going through an attic space.
• We install interior trim and finish the ceiling opening.
• We clean up both the roof surface and the interior before we leave.

PACE financing is available. No payments for 12 months and monthly options from $100.